Should You Replace These Classic Grooming Products?

For every artisanal beard oil and 12-bladed razor, there’s a decades-old grooming alternative that’s cheap and Grandpa-approved. But are any of these old school products worth the shelf space?

Smooth Shaving

Safety razors, the simple nickel-blade ones, are back, with high-style brands like Aesop ($105, aesop.com) getting into the game. Upside: You feel like a ’50s movie star while saving money. Downside: They require time and patience (especially around tricky spots, like your upper lip). If you’re always running late, stick with a many-bladed drugstore wonder.

How Not to Save Face

Barbasol ($2, walgreens.com) is eerily handy for dissolving a paint stain. As for shaving, we can say that the thick
lather goes on easy but makes your cheeks feel like they’ve been wandering the desert for a week. Upgrade to Clinique for Men Aloe Shave Gel ($17, saksfifthavenue.com). It’s smooth and soothing, so razor burn won’t be a problem.

Downgrade Your Pomade

Looking for a rubber-cement strong hold for your ’do? Then glop on Murray’s Original Pomade ($3, murrayspomade.com). Just know that this wax is almost as hard to get rid of as herpes. (You’ll have to shampoo twice, at least.) Try Imperial Gel Pomade ($24, imperialbarberproducts.com)—it’s just as strong but water-based for easy cleanup.

Mouthwash Fit for a King

Nothing’s going to kill germs better than that blue swish you’ve been using. But 260-year-old Botot ($20, bigelowchemists.com), endorsed by His Majesty Louis XV, no lie, handily freshens your breath. With notes of licorice and moonshine, it’s like a dentist-approved absinthe. Just make sure you dilute it in water instead of swigging from the bottle.

This Is Gonna Sting

The trouble with old-timey aftershaves like Clubman ($7, walgreens.com is that they’re alcohol-based, meaning they sting like hell, dry you out, and reek like a million mothballs. Switch to Proraso After Shave Balm ($16, dermstore.com) instead. It’s got an old-world-barbershop vibe but won’t make you scream like the kid from Home Alone.

Can You Feel the Powder?

If Shaq swears by Gold Bond ($8, walgreens.com), then you know it can handle industrial-grade junk sweat (and summer foot funk). But if you’re single, you’ll have to explain your white-caked briefs. Better to leave Gold Bond to married friends and switch to Anthony No Sweat Body Defense ($20, dermstore.com): It goes on as a cream, not as a powder.